JPS6123396A - Printed circuit card frame assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to printed circuit card frame assemblies that support a plurality of printed circuit cards and that support a backplane of the frame assembly.
) relates to a device that mates with a card connector receptacle.

Complex computer systems typically employ a large number of printed circuit cards, requiring intricate wires to connect these cards to each other and to other elements of the system.

The card is plugged into a so-called backplane connector receptacle. Connector bins of these receptacles project outward from the backside of the backplane. Individual wires must be electrically connected to these bins to create an electrical signal path between each inserted card and the system. Because the number of connector pins and wires involved in the backplane of a typical complex computer system is so large, the only practical way to make the various connections between them is through automatic wire wrapping ( Wirewrappi
ng) equipment. In order for this device to have access to the backplane for automatic wiring, the physical depth of the assembly must be relatively small. Specifically, the dimensions of the backplane assembly, pre-installed with the necessary card support and alignment structures, are unacceptable for automated wire wrapping equipment. Therefore, these front structures had to be attached to the backplane after automatic wire wrapping to the backplane.

Therefore, it is necessary to have access to the back side of the backplane assembly between all wiring in order to operate suitable fasteners, such as screws or bolts, through the mounting holes in the backplane assembly and front structure. Ta. This is a tedious and time consuming process that disturbs the wires to the extent that the integrity of the interconnects is compromised. Additionally, conventional printed circuits and supports often have a large part count and require considerable time and effort to assemble prior to attachment to a backplane.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved printed circuit card.
An object of the present invention is to provide a frame assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printed circuit card frame assembly of the type described above having an improved card support and alignment structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printed circuit card frame assembly of the type described above in which the improved card support and alignment structure consists of a minimum number of parts and is therefore easier to assemble.

Still another object of the invention is a printed circuit card of the type described above, wherein the improved card support and alignment structure can be easily incorporated into the frame assembly to enable convenient and reliable wiring of the frame assembly. -Providing frame assemblies.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the description below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The printed circuit card frame assembly of the present invention provides a unique unitary card support and location that can be conveniently mounted on the front side of the backplane after completing the backplane wiring of the frame assembly. Has matching shelves.

This feature allows wiring to the backplane using automatic wire wrapping equipment. This is because during wiring, there are no shelves to prevent the wire wrapping equipment from accessing the backplane.

Attached to the backplane prior to automatic wire wrapping are not shelves, but a plurality of unobstructed elongated shelf supports of a minimum depth that does not impede access to the automatic wire wrapping equipment.

Each of the shelves and shelf supports are formed with complementary projection-channel formers that fit together (in a tongue-and-groove fashion) to secure the shelf. Assemble to the shelf support member. To retain each shelf and shelf support assembly, a retaining rod is inserted into aligned openings in the protruding portions of both protrusion and groove formers.

The only attachment to the backplane itself is done before automatic wire wrapping, and the subsequent attachment of the shelves to the backplane does not disturb the wiring on the backside of the backplane, so the integrity of the wiring is not compromised. do not have.

Therefore, the present invention is characterized by the configuration, the combination of various elements, and the arrangement of various parts, and these will be specifically explained below.

Specific Description In order to better understand the purpose and features of the present invention,
The configuration of the present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the printed circuit card frame assembly 10 of the present invention includes a backplane 12 with female card slots represented by a plurality of slots 14 in the backplane.
A connector receptacle is provided. These connector receptacles include vertically arranged connector strips, and these connector strips are connected to the backplane 1.
2 to the individual bin terminals on the back side. Since such connector receptacles are well known in the art and their construction is not critical to the present invention, details of their construction have been omitted from the drawings for convenience. Frame assembly 10 is fitted with vertically spaced shelves 16 of unique unitary construction. These shelves 16 serve to removably support a number of printed circuit cards 18 in alignment or alignment with backplane connector receptacles 14.

The electrical connection of the card is made by the front part 1 of the specific shape of the card.
8a] into the connector receptacle to make an electrical connection between the connector strip of the receptacle and the contact strip 18b printed on the front portion of the card.

Each shelf 16 is attached to a separate shelf support member 20. Shelf support member 20 is formed as a single piece collar of a suitable structurally rigid molded plastic material, such as glass-filled polyetherimide, nylon, or the like. These support members 20 are assembled perpendicularly to each other by screwing self-tapping screws 22 (see FIG. 3) into a series of blind holes 24 preformed in the underside 26 of each support member, as shown in FIG. are attached to backplane 12 in spaced apart parallel relationship. Ideally, the installation of this support member should be
The pins of the connector receptacle on the backplane (
(not shown) prior to automatic wire wrapping.

As can be clearly seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the support member 2
0 has a rear wall 28 having forwardly projecting protrusions 3 arranged at regular intervals over the entire length of the support member.
0 is set. Upper and lower flanges 32 are also disposed along the length of the support member and in overlapping relation to the series of spaced apart protrusions 30.

A series of recesses or grooves 34 are thus formed between the protrusions 30. Therefore, the shelf support member 20
2 and 3, this formation has a lateral opening in the form of a rearwardly opening slot 30a. These slots 30a are aligned along the entire length of the projection-channel former.

Like support member 20, shelf 16 is a structurally rigid, unitary plastic molding formed from a suitable material such as glass-filled polyetherimide. As is clear from FIGS. 1 and 2, each shelf 16 has an array of parallel rails 38 equally spaced along its length, with a wall 40 at the rear end and a wall 40 at the front end. are connected by a wall 42.

The gaps between these rails facilitate the flow of cold W air throughout the card frame assembly. Each rail 3
The upper and lower surfaces of the card 8 are formed with guide tracks 44 which, as best seen in FIG. A series of protrusions 46 project rearwardly from the rear wall 40 of the shelf with an enlarged front entrance portion and are spaced equidistantly along the length of the shelf. The gaps or recesses between these protrusions 46 define a series of grooves 48;
Shelf 16 therefore provides rearwardly directed protrusion-channel formations along its entire length. The protrusion-channel former is in a complementary relationship with the forward-facing protrusion-channel former of the support member 20. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 4, the protrusion 46 of each shelf
is provided with a lateral opening in the form of a downwardly opening slot 46a which is aligned with the slots of all other projections over the entire length of the shelf projection-channel formation.

Assembling the shelf 16 to its support member 20, which according to the first object of the invention is done after automatic wiring to the backplane, involves connecting the protrusion-groove formations of both the shelf and the support member. It is only necessary to interlock, that is, fit together. As shown in FIG.
Since the top and bottom of the shelf board 16 are in close contact with each other, the shelf board 16 is mounted in a cantilever manner by the support member 20. In order to hold each shelf and support member assembly, a holding rod 50 is aligned in the length direction of the protrusions of both the support member and the shelf, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. slots 30a and 46
Insert into a.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the card frame assembly 10
A side plate 52 is also provided, and the side plate 52 together with the backplane 12 constitutes an enclosure in which the card 18 is housed. In order to further support the shelf board 16, tapping screws 54 are inserted into the clearance holes 52a provided in these side boards 52.
, and screwed into a blind hole 56 pre-drilled in a block forming body 58 provided at the front corner of the shelf board. Furthermore, the side plate 52
A clearance hole 52b is provided along the vertical rear edge of the holding rod 50, and a screw 60 (see FIG. 2) is passed through this hole 521) and screwed into the threaded hole 50a at both ends of the holding rod 50. To maintain a retaining bar in a shelf and support member assembly in a predetermined position despite interference.

In practice, the quickest assembly procedure is to first attach the shelf to the side plate with the screws 54, and then to assemble the shelf and side plate by engaging the protrusions and grooves on both the support member and the shelf. It is better to integrate the solid body with a pre-wired backplane. The holes 52b in the side plates are made large enough to receive the retaining rods 50 to be inserted into the slots 30a and 46a of the projections.

It will be appreciated that the slots 30a and 46a of the projections are constructed as shown to allow for indexing. Of course, the slots may be oriented in other angular relationships, such that the opening in the projection is effectively completely enclosed and the retaining bar prevents assembly with the shelf support member. Make it possible to hold. It will also be appreciated that the retaining bar may have cross-sectional shapes other than the rounded cross-sectional shape shown.

As is clear from the above description, it will be understood that the objects of the present invention are efficiently achieved.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to what has been shown and described above, as various changes may be made to the configuration described above without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a printed circuit card frame assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG.
A perspective view of a part of the shelf board and support member used in the frame assembly shown in the figure, FIG. 3 is a side view showing how the shelf board is assembled to the support member in the frame assembly shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a side view after assembly. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the shelf board and the support member, and FIG. 5 is a partially sized elevational view showing the back side of the support member used in the frame assembly of FIG. 10...Printed circuit card frame assembly, 12...
-Backplane, 14...Connector/receptacle, 16...Shelf board, 18...Printed circuit card, 20...Shelf board support member, 30.46...Protrusion, 30a, 46a...・Slot (opening), 32...
Flange, 34.48... Groove, 38... Rail, 44... Guide track, 50... Holding rod, 52... Side plate. Procedural City Official Book (Method) 1. Case Description 1985 Patent Application No. 93984 2 Title of Invention Printed Circuit Card Frame Assembly 3 Person Making Amendment Relationship to Case Applicant Address 1 River Road, Schenectaday, New York, 12305, United States of America Number Name General Electric Company 4
Agent address: 4th floor, Japan L Neral Elec 1-Link Co., Ltd., Far East Patent Department, No. 35 Kowa Building, 1-14-14 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107 July 10, 1985 (shipment date: 1985) (July 30, 2016) 6. Drawings to be amended Surface 7. Contents of amendment As per the engraving and attached sheet of the drawing originally attached to the request (no change in content)

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A frame assembly containing a removable printed circuit card, comprising: (A) a backplane provided with an array of printed circuit card connectors and receptacles; (B) perpendicular to the front side of the backplane; at least one pair of elongate support members fixed in spaced relationship in a direction, each support member including spaced apart protrusions along substantially the entire length thereof, the spaces between the protrusions defining a series of elongated support members; (C) a support member in which a groove is defined, each protrusion is provided with an opening, and these openings are aligned in a straight line along the length of the support member; a shelf, each shelf including a plurality of laterally spaced elongate rails disposed perpendicular to the backplane, each rail having at least one of its upper and lower surfaces; The card guide track has the same length as the rail, the front wall of each shelf interconnects the front end portions of the rail, and the rear wall of each shelf interconnects the rear end portions of the rail. , a series of protrusions projecting rearwardly from said rear wall and spaced apart substantially along the entire length of the shelf, the spaces between the protrusions defining a series of grooves, each protrusion having an aperture therein; and a shelf with these openings aligned along the length of the shelf, the protrusions of the shelf being in the grooves of the support member, and the protrusions of the support member being in the grooves of the shelf. The shelf board is assembled with the support member by fitting the protrusions of the support member and the protrusion of the shelf board into each other; and (D) an assembly of each of the support members and the shelf board. A printed circuit card frame assembly comprising a retention bar inserted into an aperture in the interdigitated support member projection and shelf projection in the printed circuit card frame assembly. 2. Each of the support members includes a flange that extends in a vertically overlapping relationship with respect to the groove of the support member, such that all sides of the protrusion of the shelf board are aligned with the flange within the groove of the support member. 2. A printed circuit card and frame assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: and a projection of said support member. 3. The printed circuit card frame assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said support member and said shelf are of unitary construction formed from a structurally rigid molded plastic material. 4. The printed circuit card and frame assembly of claim 3, wherein said support member includes a series of holes for receiving self-tapping screws for securing said support member to said backplane. 5. The printed circuit card frame assembly of claim 3, wherein said card guide track is formed on both upper and lower surfaces of said rail. 6. 1 at both ends of the assembly of the support member and the shelf board.
Claim 3: A pair of vertical side plates are arranged, and threaded holes are provided at each end of the retaining rod for receiving headed screws passing through clearance holes in the side plates.
Printed circuit card frame assembly as described in Section. 7. 1 at both ends of the assembly of the support member and the shelf board.
A pair of vertical side plates are arranged, with at least one threaded hole in each front corner of each said shelf for receiving a headed screw passing through a clearance hole in each side plate. Printed circuit cards listed in item 3 within the scope of
frame assembly. 8. A frame assembly for housing a removable printed circuit card, comprising: (A) a backplane having an array of card connectors and receptacles; (B) secured in vertically spaced relationship to the front side of said backplane; (C) at least one pair of elongated support members including a forward-facing first protrusion-channel former; (C) a plurality of parallel parallel support members each associated with the support member and formed on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces; a shelf board including card guide tracks spaced apart from each other and a rearwardly facing second protrusion-groove former; the shelf board is configured by interlocking the first and second protrusion-groove formers; assembled to the support member, and (D) inserted into aligned openings provided in respective protrusion portions of the first and second protrusion-groove forming bodies to connect the shelf board and the support member; A frame assembly characterized by comprising a holding rod for holding the assembly with the members. 9. One of the first and second protrusion-channel forming bodies includes flange means surrounding the upper and lower sides of the groove portion thereof, and assembly of the shelf and the support member causes the shelf to be attached to the support member. 9. A frame assembly according to claim 8, which is achieved by cantilevering the frame assembly to the frame assembly. 10. The card frame assembly of claim 9, wherein each of said support member and said shelf are of unitary construction formed from a structurally rigid molded plastic material. 11. The frame assembly of claim 10, wherein said first and second projection-groove formations are formed over substantially the entire length of said support member and said shelf, respectively. 12. The frame assembly of claim 10, wherein said support member includes a series of holes for receiving self-tapping screws for securing said support member to said backplane. 13. Claim 10, wherein said card guide track is formed on both the upper and lower surfaces of said shelf.
Frame assembly as described in section. 14. The frame assembly of claim 13, wherein said shelf has ventilation slots between said guide tracks.